Wheel and shaft mounting for side delivery rakes



Au 25, 1953 w. H. NEWMASTER WHEEL AND SHAFT MOUNTING FOR SIDE DELIVERY RAKES Z-Sheet-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 23, 1949 INVENTOR. WfJLNewmasler Aug. 25, 1953 w. H. NEWMASTER 2,649,682

WHEEL AND SHAFT MOUNTING FOR SIDE DELIVERY RAKES Original Filed Dec. 23, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS furnish a relatively mounting that has highload-bearing character- Patented Aug. 25, 1953 WHEEL AND SHAFT MOUNTING FOR SIDE DELIVERY RAKE S Walter H. Newmaster, Ottumwa, Iowa, assignor to Deere Manufacturing 00., Dubuque, Iowa, a

corporation of Iowa Original application December 23, 1949, Serial No.

1952, Serial No. 282,614

4 Claims. (01. 56-377) This invention relates to a wheel or shaft mounting for vehicles and more particularly to an improved unit mounting for a wheel and gear casing adapted primarily for use in a side delivery rake. This application is a division of copending application, Ser. No. 134,709, filed December 23, 1949.

The usual side delivery rake comprises a. longitudinal main frame carried on two or more wheels and having a rotatable raking element such as a reel disposed diagonally across the main frame. The drive means for the reel ordinarily include power-transmitting connections between the reel and the wheels. Because of the diagonal disposition of the reel with respect to the main frame, the rake is rather cumbersome to ship in assembled form and ordinarily is therefore disassembled. It has been found in the past that the requirements for reassembling the rake render such reassembly difficult in the absence of special instructions and tools. It is therefore desirable to break down the assembly of the rake into certain units that may be readily assembled and disassembled, which units or components are just as easily crated or packaged for shipment.

The present invention pertains primarily to a unit comprising one of the ground wheels and major components of the drive means whereby power is transmitted from this wheel to the rake reel. Specifically, it is an object to provide a wheel or shaft mounting or carrier comprising a bearing having its axis transverse to the direction of travel and having mounted at the inside thereof a gear casing and at the outside thereof a supporting or ground-engaging wheel. It is a further specific object to provide the carrier or mounting unit with a pair of rotatable drive members, one of which transmits power directly to the rake reel and the other of which is utilized in the transmission of power from another wheel on the rake for ultimate transmission to the rake reel.

Further objects of the invention reside in improved means for the removable mounting of the carrier unit on a generally downwardly extending support of the main frame, this means including a pair of connecting pins that are loaded in shear rather than in tension or compression and thus inexpensive and simple istics. A further object of the invention resides in the arrangement of the mounting pins in such manner that one serves as means to prevent displacement of the other. A still further object 'of the invention resides in the provisionon the Divided and this application April 16,

carrier unit of supporting means in the form of ears that embrace or overlie parts of the rake frame support so as to further add to the rigidity of the assembled structure.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent inv and encompassed by the invention will become apparent as a complete disclosure thereof is made in the following detailed description and accompanying sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a general plan view of one form of rake to which the invention may be applied;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l and showing the carrier mounting;

Figure 3 is a rear end view as seen along the line 33 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view as seen from above along the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged and compacted sectional view showing the drive means and the relationship thereto of the wheel and shaft mount- 7 ing; and

Figure 6 is a view of the rake frame per se to illustrate the characteristics thereof when removed from its component parts such as wheels and rake reel.

- General rake structure The longitudinal main frame of the rake is made up of a generally longitudinally extending beam [0 having at its forward end a forwardly and downwardly inclining leg l2 and at its rear end a rearwardly and downwardly inclining leg I4 (Figure 6). The beam [0 has rigidly fixed thereto a transverse beam Hi, the outer or right- -hand end of Which has rigidly fixed thereto a generally downwardly and rearwardly inclined leg l8. The rake frame and its components are preferably of fabricated tubular construction welded together at all points except at a removable connection 20 between the transverse beam [6 and the longitudinal beam I0.

As best seen in Figure 6, the front leg I2 is provided at its lower or forward end with a transverse spindle 22 on which is journaled a supporting or ground-engaging wheel 24. The rear or lower end of the leg l4 carries a vertical bearing 26 in which is journaled the yoke and standard 28 of a rear castering wheel 30 The lower end. of the righthand leg I8 is provided with means for the mounting thereon of a third supportin or ground-engaging wheel 32. The details of this mounting will be brought out below.

The main frame carries a reel frame 33 which is disposed diagonally to the line of travel, as is generally conventional. The extreme right-hand corner of the rake frame projects transversely or outwardly beyond the right-hand leg or support I8. The. reel frame. Carries a rotatable rake element in the form of a reel 34 which has fixed to its righthand end an imput member in the form of a sheave 36. of an endless belt 38, is trained about the sheave 36 and about a second sheave 40 fixed on the structure indicated generally by thenurneral $5.;

4 her 82 keyed to the shaft 14 between the inner face of the wheel 32 and the proximate end of the carrier bearing 64. This member 82 has seured thereto a. p cket 84 which isin longi- Drive means, here in the form.

tudinail al-inement with the sprocket 60 of the first overrunning clutch described above. The members 80 and 82 are interconnected at times for rotation together by means of one or more sprine loaded pawls, one of which is shown at 86- in Figure 5. A driving chain 88 interconnects V the sprockets 60 and. 84.

The transverse beam H5 is preferably hollow and serves as means to journal a transverse shaft 46, the left-hand end of which projects through the proximate portion jdf the longitudinal beam I0, being journaled at this end in a bearing 41 (Fig. 6). A sprocket 48 is keyed to the projecting end of the shaft 46 and is in longitudinal alinement with a sprocket 50 fixed to and coaxial with the front wheel 2 A driving chain 52 interconnects the sprockets 50 and 4.8.. Therighthand end of the shaft 46 is proximate to the upper end of the right-hand support or leg I8 and is journaled in the transverse beam It by means of a bearing 54 (Fig. 5).

This end of the shaft 45 is provided with drive means in the form of an overrunning clutch having a constantly driven member 58 keyed to, the shaft and an intermittently driven member 58 journaled on the shaft diacent the. constantly rotating member. The member 58 has fixed thereto a sprocket 60, for purposes to presently appear. The two members 55 and 58 are connectible at times by means of one or more spring- .loaded pawls, one of which appears at E2 in Figure 5. The construction in this respect may vary and since that shown follows fairly well. what is conventional, no further details thereof have been illustrated or will be described. The particular rake structure forms the subject matter of U. S. Patent 2,583,383.

Wheel and shaft mounting The wheel and shaft mounting for the wheel 32 comprises a carrier unit made up of a carrier axial length to project beyond both the inner and outer sides of the lower end of the support I8. The carrier bearing is provided internally with a pair of axially spaced anti-friction bearings 12 which serve to journal an elongated mounting or wheel shaft 14.

The shaft '14 has an outer end portion projecting outwardly beyond the outer side of the support or leg I8 and is provided with a bearing or bushing I6 for journaling a hub I8 of the Wheel 32. A second drive means in the form of an overrunning clutch is provided in association with the wheel 32 and comprises a constantly driven member 80, preferably formed as part of the wheel hub 18, and an intermittently driven. mem- It will be seen from the description thus far that the shaft [4 will be driven from both wheels 24 and 32 during straight-ahead travel of the rake. However, on a right-hand turn, the wheel 24f will travel considerably faster than the wheel 32. The spring-loaded pawls 36 will thus allow the member 82 to overrun the member 80, since the member is, through the sprockets 60 and 8,4 and chain 88. deriving power from the shaft 46. which is in turn being relatively rapidly driven by the left-hand front wheel 24. On the lefthand turns, the shaft 14 will be driven by the more rapidly rotating wheel 32' and the pawls 62 in the overrunning clutch 56-58 will allow the member 58 to overrun the member 56. In this respect, the function of the driving means is generally conventional.

The inner end of the shaft 14 is contained in the gear casing 08 and from this end of the shaft power is, taken to drive the reel 34. As best seen in Figure 5,, the shaft 14' within the gear casing 03 has keyed thereto an axially fixed clutch element 00 having one or more clutch teeth as at 92. A splined. sleeve 94 loosely encircles the shaft 14 and carries for rotation therewith but for axial shifting thereon. a movable clutch element 95 under control of a shipper 98 fixed to a control rod I00 journal'ed at its opposite ends in parallel Walls ofv the. casing 68.. The shaft I00 is rockable about. its axis and has. fixed thereto a cam member I02 which is normally held in the position indicated in Figure 5 by means of a pair of high spots I04 on the interior of the proximate wall of the casing. The shiftable or movable clutch element 9 6 has one or more teeth as at I06 which, when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 5'. are disengaged from the teeth 92 of the clutch element 90. When the shaft I00 is rotated. the cam member I02 thereon moves. off of the high spots I04 and the shipper and shaft are biased to the left by means of a coil spring I08 which bears at one end against the clutch element 0B and at its other end against the hub of a bevel gear II 0. The teeth I06 and 92 become engaged and the bevel gear [I0 is driven by the clutch element. 95 through the intermediary of the splined sleeve 94. to which the gear is likewise splined.

The bevel gear I I0 is in constant mesh with a bevel gear I I2 keyed to a forwardly and outwardly extending shaft I14 iournaled in a front wall portion of the casing 68., The axis, of rotation of the. Shaft H4, isv at. an angle to they axis of the shaft '14. The shaft H4 is constantly driven as long as the rake is movin forwardly, nless. disconnected by clutch means to be presently de scribed.

The relationship of the, shaft M4 to the remainder of the rake can be seen in Figure 1. The outer or projecting end of the shaft I I4 has a bore N6 therethrough' which serves as means for connection of the shaft to a universal joint I I8 at one. end ofa coupling shaft I20. The other end. of the. shaft. ml is connected. by a universal shaft 42.

The control shaft N39 is provided at its'one end outside the casing 68 with a control arm I24, to which may be connected a rope or other means for remote operation, as by the operator of the tractor that is drawing the rake.

From the description thus far it will be seen that the carrier unit comprising the carrier bearing 64, casing 68, shaft M, and wheel 32 comprises, in addition to means for supporting the right-hand side of the rake, a pair of drive members, one of which is inside or inwardly of the support or leg I8 and the other of which is outside or outwardly of the support.

The lower end of the support or leg I8 has front and rear wall elements I26 and I28, respectively, which are formed as part of the tubular rectangular section of the support (Figure 4). These wall elements are provided respectively with openings I36 and I32 which are alined on a longitudinal axis to provide a bore through the lower end of the support. The forward or front wall element or face I26 provided with means including a pair of transversely spaced apart parallel ears IM. These ears lie preferably respectively in the planes of the inner and outer sides or faces of the support (Figure The ears are apertured on a transverse axis which is, of course, normal to the axis of the alined apertures I30 and I32. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the axes of the bores or apertures lie in intersecting planes.

The carrier bearing 64 is provided with a first mounting means in the form of an ear I36 preferably integrally cast with the carrier bearing and adapted to overlie the rear wall element I28 of the support I8. The ear I36 is apertured at I38 and a connecting member in the form of a pin MI} is passed through the alined apertures or openings I30, I32 and I38. The rear end of the pin projects slightly beyond the rear face of the ear I36 and the forward end of the pin projects beyond the front wall element I26 of the support and at this point is provided with retaining means in the form of a cotter pin I42 which prevents axial displacement of the pin I48 rearwardly.

The carrier bearing 64 is provided with a pair of transversely spaced apart ears M l, preferably cast integral with the carrier, which are adapted respectively to overlie the outer faces of the ear portions I34 provided on the front wall element of the support. The ears I44 are apertured in alinement and are alineable with the apertures in the ears I34, and a connecting member in the form of a second pin I4 6 is passed through these alined apertures and across the forward projecting end of the first connecting pin Hill. The pin 546 has means for preventing axial displacement thereof, this means preferably taking the form of a pair of cotter pins Hi8.

As best seen in Figure 4, the pin I 56 passes across the forward end of the pin I48 and thus blocks the pin I40 against escape forwardly. The pin I45 thus has or constitutes means for preven ing axial displacement of the pin I48 at least in a forward direction.

Figure 2 shows that the ears Hi l respectively overlie portions of the inner and outer faces of the support I8, thus contributing further to the rigidity of the mounting means. Further, the load applied to both pins IE0 and E45 is in shear, rather than in tension or compression. Hence, the mounting is relatively inexpensive and its load-bearing characteristics are considerably higher than more expensive constructions not utilizing the factors just outlined.

6 Summary As previously stated, the importance of the invention lies in its contribution to the ease with which the rake in general may be assembled, disassembled and reassembled. As shown in Figure 6, the rake frame itself may be stripped of its components and the frame and its components may be separately packaged and crated and shipped together in a much smaller unit than would be otherwise possible. The rake frame is provided with three hangers I56, I52 and I54 for removably supporting the rake frame 33. The front wheel 24 and the caster wheel 33 are easily removed from the rake frame. Likewise, the entire carrier mounting comprising the wheel 32, shaft I l, carrier bearing I34 and casing (58 is readily removable from the support or leg I8, it being necessary merely to remove the two pins I40 and M6 after disconnecting the drive chain 88. As a matter of fact, because of the connectin pins I40 and his, removal of the pins will permit separation of the carrier unit from the remainder of the rake without requiring separation of links in the chain 88, since the entire unit may be moved forwardly andoutwardly and the chain 88 passed over the casing 68.

Other advantages and features of the invention not specifically enumerated above will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, as likewise will numerous modifications and alterations in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wheel and drive mounting assembly for attachment to an upright support, comprising: a tubular carrier positionable horizontally across the support and having means providing a bearing on a horizontal axis, opposite ends of said carrier projecting respectively at opposite sides of the support; means on the carrier for removably securing the carrier to the support; a gear housing removably mounted on the carrier at one end thereof and independent of the support so as to be separable from the carrier as well as removable as a unit with the carrier from the support; a shaft journaled in the carrier bearing means and having an inner stub end projecting into and enclosed by the housing and an outer end extending outwardly beyond the opposite end of the carrier; a wheel on the outer end of the shaft; a drive member on the shaft outside the housing and intermediate the wheel and said opposite end of the carrier; 2. second drive member at the inner side of the support and projecting into and enclosed by the housing; and driving mechanism within the housing for operatively interconnecting the inner end of the shaft and the housing-contained portion of the second drive member.

2. For a side delivery rake having a generally longitudinal main frame including a support, a rotatable rake element carried by the frame and having an input member projecting into proximity to the support, and a shaft journaled on the frame and projecting into proximity to the support, the improvement comprising: a wheel carrier unit positionable adjacent the support and having means providing a bearing on a transverse axis; means for removably mounting the carrier on the support; an axle journaled on the carrier unit bearing and having a portion projecting outwardly of the support; a wheel on the projecting portion of the axle; a first drive member rotatably carried by the carrier unit inwardly of the support and, having means for connection ond drive, member rotatably carried by the carrier unit between the support and the wheel. and

having means for connection to the aforesaid second shaft.

3.. For a side delivery rake having a. generally longitudinal main, frame including a support, a rotatable rake element carried by the frame and having an input member projecting into proximity to the support, anda shaft j'ournaled on the frame and projecting into proximity to the support, the improvement comprising: a wheel carrier unit positionable transversely of and adjacent to. the support and having inner and. outer ends. respectively at inner and outer sides of the support, said carrier unit including means providing a bearing on a, transverse axis; an. axle journaled in the bearing and having inner and outer stub ends projecting respectively at. the inner and outer ends of the carrier unit; means for removably mounting the carrier on the support; a gear casing on the inner end of the carrier unit coaxial with the carrier bearing and enclosing the inner stub end of the axle and fixed to said carrier unit for positioning inwardly of the support; "an output shaft projectin from the gear casing inwardly of the support for connection to. the rake, element input member and rotatable on an axis at an angle to the carrier bearing axis; a wheel on the outer stub end of the axle; and a rotatable drive member carried by the axle between the support and the wheel and having means for connection to the aforesaid shait on the main frame.

4. The invention defined in claim 3, further characterized in that: the means for mounting the carrier unit on the support includes disengageable connecting elements independent of the gear casing; and the gear casing is removably secured to the carrier bearing by means independent of said mounting means to provide for removal of the gear casing from the carrier bearing independently.

WALTER H. NEWMASTER.

References Cited in the file of this patent,

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,403,401 Rietz Jul 2, 1946 2,491,211 Rietz Dec. 13, 1949 2,518,389 Sisulak Aug. 8, 1950 

